Mapping Methodism – Carharrack Bible Christian Chapel

Carharrack is a village two miles east of Redruth in a former mining area. Its first Bible Christian Chapel was situated some way from the centre of the village and was later replaced by a more central place of worship. This profile has been compiled by Tony Mansell with information provided by Barrie May of Carharrack.

1840 Chapel

1840: “Great Deliverance Chapel” built by Billy Bray; it was east of the village – in Consuls Road.

Believed to be Great Deliverance Chapel at Carharrack

1874: “Great Deliverance Chapel” closed.

(The Cornishman 31st March 1949, courtesy Val Thomas)

1885 Chapel

1870s: The Bible Christians purchased a coal yard and warehouse in the centre of Carharrack and converted it into a chapel.

1883: The Bible Christians built a larger chapel on the same site. “On Fore Street the Bible Christians erected a large ‘Memorial Chapel’ to Billy Bray. This was to take the place of a smaller original chapel built by the famous evangelist on the eastern outskirts of the village of Carharrack and named by him ‘Deliverance’.” (http://gwennap-opc.vingoe.name/The%20Old%20Parish.htm)

1883: “New Bible Christian Chapel at Carharrack. On Monday the foundation stones of a new Bible Christian Chapel were laid at Carharrack. The building will accommodate 400 persons, and the estimated cost is £800. In the existing chapel only 200 can be seated…The two corner stones were respectively laid by Mr. Jose, of Melingey, and Mr. J. Rooke, of Carew House, both of whom were presented with silver trowels for the purpose. Mr. Jose having laid the stone in the name of the Trinity, said he hoped the chapel would be a blessing to the neighbourhood, and that generations yet to come would have cause to be thankful that that place of worship was erected at Carharrack…It had occurred to him since he had been there that some might not see the necessity of building a Bible Christian Chapel in that spot, especially as the Wesleyans had a large and commodious building, which, no doubt, would meet the requirements of the, people of the neighbourhood. He was not in a position to express an opinion on that matter, but he would say this — that if the society would be the means of bringing in those the Wesleyans had not been able to reach their labours and the expenses they were about to incur in building the place of worship would not be in vain. On the contrary the money would be well spent, and a good and sound investment,’ and he was sure their Christian brethren of that place would congratulate them on their success. He hoped the day was not far distant when all Christian communities would waive the differences between them, and unite heart and hand in one great cause for suppressing the strongholds of Satan, and for the extension of the Gospel of Christ, and the building up of His Kingdom. Mr. Rooke, in laying the second cornerstone, said it had been represented to him that that chapel was not required, but in his opinion it was very desirable. He believed it would stimulate activity among those who were labouring for the cause of Christ. He hoped it would be a benefit to the Wesleyans as well as the Bible Christians, and that it would help materially to promote the cause of religion…The Chairman, in giving ” Success to the Billy Bray Memorial Chapel,” said he believed that chapel was the ,j result of earnest working. If Billy Bray, as he was, affectionately called, was not a great man, as some reckoned greatness, he was a good man, for he laboured earnestly and long in the cause of religion, and it was owing to its works that the Great Deliverance Chapel was built…” (Royal Cornwall Gazette – Friday 13 July 1883)

1885: The new “Billy Bray Memorial Bible Christian Chapel” opened.

Carharrack United Methodist Chapel also known to the locals as “Billy Brays Chapel” (Photo: courtesy Mary Teague)